Medical Laboratory Journal

en Effect of Urtica dioica agglutinin (a plant lectin) on breast cancer cell growth in MCF-7 cells پزشکی مولکولی Molecular Medicine Research Article Research Article Background: The high global mortality of breast cancer in women necessitates novel therapies with fewer side effects.. Urtica dioica agglutinin (UDA), a lectin from stinging nettle, exhibits antiproliferative properties in various cancers, but its effect on breast cancer cells remain underexplored. This study evaluates UDA’s cytotoxic potential against Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) breast cancer cells while assessing its impact on  non-tumorigenic human mammary epithelial (MCF-10A) and Human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells. Methods: UDA purification was performed via affinity chromatography from Urtica dioica rhizomes, confirmed by SDS-PAGE (8.5–9.5 kDa) and agglutination assays. MCF-7, MCF-10A, and HEK-293 cells were treated with different concentrations of UDA (7.5–480 µg/ml) for 24 and 48 hours. Cytotoxicity was assessed using MTT assays to measure cell viability. Results: UDA significantly inhibited MCF-7 proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P < 0.01 at 24 hours; P < 0.0001 at 48 hours). At 240 µg/ml (during 48 hours), viability dropped below 50%, while normal HEK-293 cells showed <30% toxicity. MCF-10A proliferation remained unaffected, even at 480 µg/ml. IC50 was 389.7 207.0 μg/mL for 24 and 48 hours.  Conclusion: UDA targets breast cancer cells (MCF-7) with minimal toxicity to normal cells, positioning it as a promising anticancer candidate. Determining the mechanism of its action and apoptosis-inducing potential needs further research in the future.  . UDA, Stinging nettle, MCF-7 cell line, anticancer candidate, Cytotoxicity, 0 0 http://mlj.goums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1949-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Esmail Samadian essamadian@gmail.com 100319475328460032160 100319475328460032160 No Medical Laboratory research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran Arash Golalipour Arash3096@gmail.com 100319475328460032161 100319475328460032161 No 2Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran Mohammadali Vakili vakili@goums.ac.ir 100319475328460032162 100319475328460032162 No 3Health Management and Social Development Research Center, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran Hasan Mohammed hassan.iqyousif@gmail.com 100319475328460032163 100319475328460032163 No 4Laboratories of Imam Al-Sadiq Hospital, Ministry of Health, Babylon Governorate, Iraq; Medical Laboratory research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran azam rashidbaghan rashidbaghan@yahoo.com 100319475328460032164 100319475328460032164 Yes 5Neonatal and Children’s Health Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran